Naadir Tharpe was just good enough to be not quite good enough as Kansas’ starting point guard.

In his one and only season as KU’s starter, he averaged 8.5 points and 5.0 assists for the Jayhawks, who extended their string of Big 12 regular-season championships to 10. Tharpe’s shoot-first approach on a team that featured multiple future lottery picks often led the Jayhawks to struggle, though, and they were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament after one victory.

Naadir Tharpe (AP Photo)

Tharpe is leaving Kansas, whigh the school announced Thursday afternoon. Coach Bill Self said in the school's release it was related to the Tharpe's distance from his daughter, who was born in January 2012.

“Naadir and I have talked numerous times since he’s been here about his role and about his situation back home with his daughter,” Self said. “He’s told me many times how much he misses his little girl and she’s had some health issues that has certainly made it difficult for him to be away from her for this extended period of time. She’s doing very well now, but Naadir approached me after the season was over about him wanting to be closer to her. This is his decision to try and accomplish that.”

Tharpe's issues at KU were not limited to the playing surface. This spring, a photograph of himself being hugged by a woman while he was naked and she was partially clothed was widely disseminated on the internet. Self acknowledged at an early April press conference he was aware of the photo and disappointed with Tharpe's judgment.

Tharpe shot 2-of-8 from the field and fouled out in the NCAA Tournament loss to Stanford. He lost his starting job early in the season as coach Bill Self questioned his handling of the team. He also missed the team’s season opener as punishment for playing in an unauthorized summer league game.

KU still has sophomore-to-be Frank Mason on the roster and is recruiting Devonte’ Graham, who is available following a lengthy battle to be released from his letter-of-intent with Appalachian State. Graham will decide between KU and N.C. State.

“I enjoyed my time here,” Tharpe said in the release. “I appreciate the players that were here before me that I got a chance to play with and that are still friends with me right now. It’s going to be tough leaving a situation like this because of the teammates I’m leaving behind. Everything happens for a reason and I have to continue my journey a different way.”